In our present digital age, websites and applications have become integral to information, services, and opportunities. But for many people with disabilities, which is a growing number, online experience is still out of reach. Digital accessibility is what makes digital products usable and beneficial to all users regardless of their ability. It is not a nice-to-have feature anymore it must be a component in every stage of web design.
Understanding Digital Accessibility
Digital access is in regard to the design and development of websites, applications, and digital content which a large range of disabilities do use easily. This includes people with visual, auditory, cognitive, motor, and speech impairments.
Standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) give detailed instructions on what it takes to put together accessible sites, which includes issues of screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, captioning, color contrast, and more. Accessibility is what is put in place to include everyone and to promote equality of access.
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
In in many countries digital accessibility is a legal requirement which is not a best practice any more. We have the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the US and the Equality Act in the UK which put into law that digital content has to be made accessible to all. Also companies that do not comply see themselves at the risk of suit, penalties, and also damage to their reputation.
Beyond what the law requires, we see accessibility as a component of a company’s ethical responsibility. Which companies put accessibility at the fore do so out of a value for all of their customers’ which is a point they also extend into the physical and digital spaces they create.
Expanding Your Audience
Ignoring access issues is to alienate a large group of what may be prospective users. The World Health Organization reports that over one billion people have some type of disability. By making digital products accessible businesses and organizations may reach a larger audience which in turn increases user engagement, loyalty, and conversions.
Accessible design has wide reach beyond that of people with disabilities. Elements such as voice commands, video captions, and easy to read layouts also include in better experience for senior users, those in loud settings, and the mobile user.
Building Better User Experiences
Good practice in accessibility improves overall user experience (UX). We see that in clear navigation, intuitive interfaces, readable text, and alternative content forms which in turn makes our sites more usable for all. Also an accessible site tends to load faster, perform better in search engine results, and has greater visitor retention which are very much the keys to success in today’s competitive digital world.
Design of products and spaces with accessibility in mind at the outset which in turn promotes a user centered and thoughtful approach which reduces the need for expensive reworks and retro fits down the road.
Driving Innovation
As designers and developers, we take up the challenge of what it means to create accessible experiences, we see to it that we come up with very innovative solutions which in turn better digital products for all of our users. Also, many of what we now consider mainstream technologies like voice recognition and text-to-speech software, were at first developed to help people with disabilities which in turn has made them very popular with the general public.
